Control valve



Nov. 28, 1939. E. A. TURNER E' AL CONTROL VALVE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY l 1N VENT ORS TArc/zef 'Z/fzzef Chan/s BDawlSa/z ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1939. E. A. TURNER Erm.

CONTROL VALVE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvk ENQ WW Ww Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNI-TED STATES CONTROL VALVE Edwin Archer Turner, New York, N.- Y., and Charles R. Davison, Erie, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Standard. Stoker Company, Inc., New York,.N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August i9, 1936, Serial No. 96,804

7 Claims.

Ihis invention relates to a control valve for locomotive auxiliary devices, such as stoker drive engines.

Inv many locomotive stoker installations, the driving engine thereof is rigidly mounted upon the frame: oithe-locomotive at. a'v considerable dis'tancebelow the cab deck;` The valvev device for controlling the admission and exhaustv of steam to and from the dri-ving engine is disposed 'adjacent' the: engine and arranged for manual operation byl means of a rod which passes through the-cab" deck-to a: point in the cab Within convenient. reach" of v the fireman.

I-Ieretofore,A the construction of the Stoker engine control valve was such thatl the movable valve element thereof was maintained in the uppermost position of its travel in order to cause forward' operation of the stoker engine. This necessitates theuse o-:fy alatch device for hold- "l ing' the valve operatingA rod in its uppermost positionlto the cabdeck. With such an arrangement itvvillbeappa-rentthat, incident to vibrationzor othermovement of the cab deck with respect` toA the locomotive frame, afsevere strain is placed uponrthe valve operatingfrod, often causingthefrod'to break; Upon-fracture of the operating,I rod; the movablel valve element becomes free tomo've downwardlyin the valve bodyl to-a position which'reverses the admission of steam to'tlle'drivingy engine so-thatv the latter is only operable in a reverse direction, resulting in` a Stoker. failure.

The principal object of this inventionisto pre ventI andrtoiovercome stoker failures of this nav ture' byf thek provision of` an improved.v control valve compri'sihgan operating rod which during normal operation of the stoker driving engine is free of 'any' positive connection with the cab deck` whereby`4 the strains and stresses attendant with thex operation of the locomotive are not transmitted to the rod.

A'sa further object thereof', the present vinvention contemplates the provision of an, improved control valve in which the movable valve element during normal operation of the stoker driving engine is at rest, by reason of its weight, against a seat or stop in the body of the control valve so that in the event breakage of the operating rod should occur, the movable valve element may remain in a position to admit steam or other pressure fluid to the driving'engine for continuing normal operation of the stoker.

As another object thereof, the' present invention contemplates providing an improved control valve having a positive neutral position whereby any pressure fluid in the intake port that may leak through the movable valve element is vented to atmosphere, thereby preventing passage of pressure fluid to the driving engine when the control valve is in such neutral position.

A: still further object ofthe invention resides in the provision of a control valve having a cylindrical bore and a-cover over one end of said bore through which. cover passes a'stem of they movable valve element, the under side of the cover at all times being subjected to exhaust pressure only.

Other objects are to-provide'an improved control valve of such construction that its installation may easily and conveniently be made in the piping system heretofore provided for control valves of prior construction; to provide a novel arrangement of ports and. passages for the admission.y and exhaust of pressure fluid through the control valve; to `provide a-novel and eflicient system for draining any condensate in the control valve, and to otherwise improve upon the construction and operation of thecon-trol valve asvvill hereinafter become-more apparent from the description when read in. connection. with accompanyingY drawings-in which the control valve hasbeen embodied for use in connection With adriving engine of awell known locomotive Stoker.

Fig.y -1k of the drawings represents a longitudinal section through. the rear portion of a locomotive adjacent the remans side, illustrating the -invention in side elevation;

Figures 2,. 3 and 4. are` central vertical sections throughy theA control valve of the-present invention with certain portions shown somewhat diagrammatically, each view showing the control valve in successive-operative positions as indicated-by-thelegendsg, and

Figures 5 and 6. arer true sectionaly views of the controlvalve taken` on the linesl 5--5 and 6 5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

On these drawings, the locomotive is indicated by L andA comprises. a frame ill! above which` is supported a boiler backheadl II` by means of an expansion plate I2, To the rear of the frame ID, another expansionfplate I3 is secured for supporting; the cab deck I4. The, cab deck lltmay be furthersupported uponrabracket I5,V carried by theboiler backhead IL. The stoker is shown at, S,Y and includes a delivery conduit. I6 supported at its upper end from thek backhead IIY by a bracket Il. and. at. its lower end by the bracket i3.. The lower end of the delivery conduit IB exibly supports the forwardlend of another conduit I9 leading forwardly from the tender (not shown). A conveyor screw, such as 2li, extends through the conduits I6, I 9 and, conveys coal therethrough for delivery into a flreboX contained within the boiler.

'Ihe conveyor screw 20 is operated by means of gearing (not shown) driven by shafting ZI having an operative connection with the stoker drive engine E. The engine E is of the multicylinder, double acting type and utilizes steam or other pressure fluid as an operating medium therefor. such as 22 to a bracket 23 which is securely fastened to the locomotive frame Il. The admission of steam or other pressurefluid to the driving engine E and the exhausting of steam therefrom are controlled .by a valve V-having an inextensible rod 24 which extends upwardly through the cab deck I4 and terminates in the handle 25 disposed adjacent the firemans seat box 25 for convenience of operation.

Steam from the locomotive boiler is conducted to the valve V `by means of an intake pipe 21 while the steam exhausted by the engine E passes through the valve V and thence through pipe 28 to the locomotive front end. During normal Stoker operation the valve V conductsv steam from the intake pipe 21 to the pipe 29, the latterV having a connection with the steam chest 30 of the engine and being also provided with a nipple 3l which is suitably connected with a mechanical lubricator for the purpose of supplying a small quantity of oil at regular intervals to steam chest 33 for lubricating the cylinder walls. In the normal operation'of the stoker steam exhausted from the engine E passesr from the pipe 32 into the valve V and. thence to pipe 28. Reversal of the stoker engine E is accomplished by movement of the rod 24 as will hereinafter be described, whereby the valve V admits steam from pipe 21 to pipe 32, the steam exhausting through pipe 29, valve V and thence through pipe 28.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6,v inclusive, illustrating the detailed construction of the controlvalve V, it will be apparent that thisl valve consists of an elongated body member 35 having a cylindrical bore 36 therein. Within the cylindrical bore 36 a movable valve element -31 is mounted and it is arranged for movement within the body 35 by means of a stem 38 which has an' operative pivotal connection as at 39 with the rod 24. The upper end of the valve body 35 is covered by a cap 48 having a stufng box 4I through which passes the stem 38. Bolts 42 secure the cap to the body. The movable valve element 31 is in the form of a spool having an upper enlarged end 43 and a lower enlarged end 44. In each enlarged -end 43, 44 of the movable valve element 31, rings such as 45 are provided for insuring a pressure-tight seal between the enlarged ends 43, 44 of the valve and the reduced portion 46 thereof.

The lower end of the body member 35 is provided with a seat 41 upon which the lower enlarged end 44 of the valve element 31 is adapted to rest, as shown in Fig. 2. Adjacent the lower end 44 of the valve 31 the stem 38 is provided with a shoulder 48 seating against a central boss 49 which is formed with the valve element 31 and connected to the cylindrical walls thereof by ribs 59 (as clearly shown in Fig. 6). The stem 38 passes through the central boss 49 and its lower end is engaged by a nut 9 drawn tightly against the under side of thevcentral boss 49 to form a secure connection between the stem 38 and the movable valve element 31.

By connecting the stem 38 to the valve element 31, it will be noted that the length of the control valve is maintained as small as possible without reducing the cross sectional area interiorly of the valve element 31 through which the exhausted steam must pass.

This engine is rigidly secured by bolts.

' conducted to a suitable point of discharge. Immediately above its threaded portion 5l and be- Below the seat 41 the valve body 35 is threaded as at 5| to receive the exhaust pipe 28. Elbow 52 in the exhaust pipe 28 is provided with a drainage tube 53 through which condensate is At the upper portion of the valve body the passage 55 opens inwardly, as at 56, into the rcylindrical bore 36 for conducting `the exhaust steam through the valve element 31 during normal stoker operation. Since, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the upper end 43 of the movable valve element 31 must at times pass across the inward opening 55 of the passage 55 and since the passage must be of substantial cross-sectional area, a series of bridge walls 51 is provided, as best shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose of maintaining the rings 45 within their respective grooves in the upper end 43 of the movable valve element 31. y

Thefsteam intake pipe 21 is threaded yinto a boss 60 and admits steam between the enlarged ends 43, 44 of the movable valve element for selective distribution into either of the pipes 29 or 32. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the normal or forward operation of the Stoker engine Eis attained by moving thevalve element 31 to a position whereby its lower end 44 rests upon the seat 41. With the movable valve element 31 in this position it will be apparent that steam passing from the intake 21 will be conned between the enlarged ends 43, 44 of the valve 31 and thence will pass through port 6I into the pipe 29 for admission to the steam chest 30.

At a suitable distance below the lowermost point of the port 6l a drain valve 82 is connected to the valve body 35 by means of a coupling 63. The drain valve 62 comprises a valve element 64 which, in the absence of any substantial pressure in port 6|, is maintained in an open position by means of a spring 65. Thus any accumulated condensate in pipes 21, 29 will flow out'through the drain valve 62 before operation of the stoker engine is started. As soon as steam is admitted to the intake 21 and port 6|, the pressure of steam will cause the valve element 64 to close, thereby preventing leakage of steam through the drain valve 62 during -normal stoker operation.

It will be apparent from Fig. l, wherein the control valve V is in a position to cause forward be further observed from Fig. 2 that when the control valve of the described construction is utilized, breakage of the valve stem 38 or the rod 24 for any reason will not result in a stoker failure because the movable valve element 31 is pressure-balanced on all sides and will normally come to rest in the position llustratedinl'ig.' 2, thereby-insuring admissionof steam torthele'n.- gine E for operating the latter normally.

Occasionally it is desirable to reverse the direction of rotation of theconveyor screw 2S in order to release extraneous matter lodged between the liightof the screw and the stoker conduit wallsiY In order to accomplish this reversal, the reman grasps the handle andpulls the rod 2d upwardly until the'movable valve element 3l is in the position illustratedin Fig. 4, whereupon.

steam fromrthe intake pipe 2l" will pass around the reduced'portion` llti'oi the Valve element and through the openings 555 into the port 55. The

` live steam then enters the steam-chest di) .through pipe 32 andis admitted, through suitable valves in the engine E in' a. manner well known, to cause the crank shaft 3'to be rotatedin reverse direction. During reverseoperation of the engine E the pipe 2d serves to exhaust steam from the chest The steam entering pipe 29 passes into port GI and thence beneath the movable valve clement 3"! into the exhaust pipe 25. It will be `apparent from Fig. Il that a certain amount of livel steam will escape through the passage 5d into the exhaust pipe 28. However, since reverse operation of the Stoker engine is only for short infrequent intervals, the amount of steam thus lost is very'small.

A'sin the forward running position of the engine, tliepperating rod 2li is not in any way positively connected to the cab deck during reversal of the Stoker engine, it being necessary for the iireman to retain the handle 25 in its uppermost position' in order that reversed operationoi the engine'be continued'. As soon as the handle 25is released, the valve element 3l will ci' itself move downwardly and cause the stolrer engine to operate normally. This ieatureis of particular advantage in locomotive stoker` operation where it has been found in past practice that when a positive lock. is used to retain the valve in areversing position, the fireman frequently fails to return thevalve to its normal position until lowering' of steam'pressure caused'- by poor fire conditions brings to his attention the reverse operation of the stoker.

' Ifupon continued reversalof` the conveyor screw ZU'the extraneous material is notl released, it is customary for the iireman toshut oli the supply of steam to the intakepipe 2l' and then, as a precautionary measure, placey the movable valve element 3l in a neutral position'. Under these conditions the fireman may then attempt' to release the'clog manually without any danger; In Fig. S-'the movable valve element 'lis shown in the neutral position and itlY wiilvbe apparent that any steamv which 'may have entered' the intake pipe willl be coniinedl between the enlarged ends M of the movable valve element 3l?. The arrangement is such that at least one ring 45 provides an eiecti've seal against steam leakage. However, should the rings become slightly worn, any leakage'of'stearn past the en- .larged ends 43,' it of the movable valve element 3l will always be vented to atmosphere through the, exhaust pipe ESandthe leakage would not, therefore, cause the engine to operate.

Since the iireman must direct his manual efforts to release the clog, means'is provided'for maintaining the operating rod in the neutral position illustrated in Fig 3. This means com# prises a latch plate "iii which is secured to the cab deck lll by means of screws l'l and having therein an opening l2 through which passes the upperi endV of the rod 24. This rod is provided witha notclrsll?, whichin calibrated, to engage the latch platefllll whenthe' movable. valve element 3l is in the position as4 shown in Fig. 3`. The notchand latch plate 'lllfarev maintained in engaging position by a spring i4, one end of which issecured to. the rod 24, the other end beingfastened to an eye bolt 'l5 which is threadedlinto. an angleironv 'i6- on the under side of the cab deck vIll'. Th'e'spring 'M also serves to stabilize the rod 2Q against excessive angular fore and aft movement about pivot 39 when the movable valve elementis infthe positions shown in Figures' 1, Zand 4.

Because it is essential to .maintain the operating rod 2d in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of the latch plate lll, it will be apparent that as relative movement between the deck I4 andirame l0 occurs, the movable valve element 3l will reciprocate slig tly within the valve body This' movement is not objectionable, however, becausev the movable valve element is free to slide 1 -considerable distance to either side of its neutral position Without striking the seat d? or the cap dit. element 3l be moved by vibration of the stem 38 a distance sufficient to vcause its reduced portion 155 to establish communication with port 6I or port 55, any steam conned between the en larged ends' d3, Alle of the valveeleinent 3l will be vented tothe exhaust pipe 23 and will not pass into either ci the pipes 29, 32.

Whenever it isi desired to move the valve element 3l from its neutral position into either of its other positions, the fireman pushes the rod 2d forwardly, it being clear that the rod 24 is free to moveabout its pivotal connection 39,: to cause disengagement of the` latch plate lll with notch il, whereupon the rod may be pulled' upward to place the valve elernentfill'v in a reverse position as shown in Fig. il, or, if desired, the rod 2t may be pusheddownwardly to place the valve element 3? in a forward position as shown in- Fig. 2

Those familiar with the art will readily understand that a control valve constructed' according to this invention will be efficient in operation; that the construction affords' adequate protection to a Stoker operator by reason of its positive neutral position; and that this construction prevents breakage of the valve stern and other failuresattendant with control valves of prior construction..

We claim:

1. Ina locomotive having a frame and a cab deck above` said frame vsupported thereby, the combination. of acontrol valve-for a reversible engine supported on a part oi the locomotive beneath said deck and having a slight movement with respect to said cab deck during normal operation of the locomotive, Said control valve including a body member havingthereina pressurev iiuid intake passage and a pair of discharge ports arranged-to selectively receive pressure iiuid from said intake passage, one of saiddischarge ports communicating with said engine for operating it in a forward directionand the other of said discharge ports communicating'with said engine for operating. it in a reverse direction, a movable valve elementfor selectivelyVV establishing communication between said intake passage and either of said ports, andan inextensibl'e rod operatively connected to said movable valve element and' extending upwardly through said cab deck, said rod being loosely'frelatedV and movable With respect to said deck when said movable valve element is in a position to establish communication between said intake port and the port communicating with the engine for operating it in a forward direction.

2. In a locomotive having a frame and a cab deck above said frame supported thereby, thev combination of a control valve for a reversible engine supported o-n a part of the locomotive beneath said deck and having a slight movement with respect to said cab deck during normal operation of the locomotive, said control valve in-` cluding a body member having therein a pressure fluid intake passage and a pair of discharge ports arranged to selectively receive pressure fluid from said intake passage, one of said discharge ports communicating with said engine for operating it in a forward direction and the other of said discharge ports communicating with said engine for operating it in a reverse direction, a movable valve element for selectively establishing communication between said intake passage and either of said ports, an inextensible rod operatively connected to said movable valve element and extending upwardly through said cab deck, said rod being loosely related and movable with respect to said deck when said movable valve element is in a position to establish communication between said intake port and the port communicating with the engine for operating it in a forward direction, and means for securing said rod with respect to said cab deck upon movement of said valve element to a position for interrupting communication between said intake p-assage and said ports.

3. In a locomotive having a frame and a cab deck above said frame supported thereby, the combination of an engine control valve supported on a p-art of the locomotive beneath said deck and having a slight movement with respect to said cab deck during normal operation of the locomotive, said control valve including a body member having a vertically directed cylindrical bore therein, a valve element in said cylindrical bore for vertical movement therein, said valve element being selectively movable to positions for causing forward and reverse engine operation, and means including a rod operatively connected to said valve element for moving the same to its operative positions, said rod passing freely through said cab deck and being vertically supported by said valve element only when the latter is in a position to cause engineoperation in a forward direction.

4. In a locomotive having a frame and a cab deck above said framesupported thereby, the

combination of an engine control valve support-` ed on a part of the locomotive beneath said deck and having a slightv movement with respect to: said cab deck during normal operation of the locomotive, said control valve including a body member having a vertically directed cylindrical bore therein, a valve element in said cylindrical bore for vertical movement therein, said valve element being selectively movable to positions for causing forward and reverse engine operation, said valve element also having a neutral position intermediate the first and second named positions for interrupting engine operation, means including a rod operatively connected to said valve element for moving the same to its operative positions, said rod passing freely through said cab deck and being vertically supported by said valve element only when the latter is in a position to cause engine voperation in a forward direction,and means for securing said rod against movement with respect to said cab deck upon placement o-f said valve element in its neutral position.

5. In a locomotive 'having a frame and a cab deck above said'frame supported thereby, the combination of a control valve for a reversibley engine supported 0n the locomotive beneath the cab deck and having slight movement with respect to said cab deck during normal operation of the locomotive, said control valve including a body member having a vertically directed cylindrical bore therein, a valve element in said cylindrical bore for vertical movement therein, said valve element being movable to positions for causing forward and reverse operation of the engine and to a neutral position, said valve ele-l ment being movable through force of gravity from neutral and reverse position to position for forward operation of the engine, and means includi ing a rod operatively connected to said valve element for raising the same to its neutral and reverse positions, said rod passing freely through said cab deck and being vertically supported by said valve element only when the latter is in a position to cause engine operation in a forward direction.

6. In a locomotive havinga frame and a cab .deck above said frame supported thereby, the

from neutral and reverse position to position for forward operation of the engine, means including a rod operatively connected to said valve element for raising the' same to its neutral and reverse positions, said rod passing freely through said cab deck and being vertically supportediby said valve element only when the latter is in a position to cause engine operation in a forward direction and means for securing said rod to said cab deck for retaining said valve element in its neutral position.

'7. In combination, a pressure fluid operated v reversible engine, a fluid supply line communicating with said' engine for operating it in a forward direction, .a second fluid supply line communicating with said engine for operating it in a reverse direction, a control valve, said valve including a body member having a vertically directed cylindrical bore therein` and` having a pressure iiuid intake port, a pressure fluid discharge port communicating with one of said uid supply lines anda pressure fluid discharge port communicating with the other of said uid supply lines, a valve element in said cylindrical bore for vertical movement therein, said valve element being movable to positions for causing forward and reverse operation of the engine and to a neutral position, said valve element being movable through force of gravity from neutral and reverse position to position for forward operation of the engine.`

E. ARCHER TURNER. CHARLES R. DAVISON. 

